Forbes Named Chairman of Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee

Subcommittee responsible for building a robust Navy fleet, strengthening the naval air component, ensuring the Marine Corps remains a premier expeditionary force, and building a new generation of Air Force capabilities

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) has been appointed Chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee for the 113th Congress by full Committee Chairman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon.

The jurisdiction of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee currently includes Navy and Marine Corps research, development and acquisition programs (RD&A), Naval Reserve equipment, and the Air Force's Long-Range Bomber (LRS-B) and tanker programs.

Congressman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said, "As Chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee, I know Congressman Forbes will be a strong advocate for the Navy and Marine Corps, ensuring that our sailors and Marines have what they need to fight and win today's wars while preparing for future national security challenges. Randy has always made the well being and readiness of our nation's men and women in uniform one of his highest priorities, and I'm confident his commitment to our warfighters will continue as he leads the Seapower Subcommittee."

"It is an honor to be chosen to chair the Seapower Subcommittee," said Congressman Forbes. "As a maritime nation, I firmly believe our sea power and projection forces – the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force – are the cornerstones of our national security strategy. However, our nation faces an increasingly challenging national security landscape. States like the People's Republic of China and Iran are acquiring capabilities aimed at countering our maritime superiority and undermining longstanding balances of power. Our Navy is also struggling to keep up with an exhausting pace of peacetime missions that are pushing operational and personnel tempos to the limit."

"Meeting these challenges demands not just a larger fleet, but a Navy balanced for the strategic landscape likely to confront us in the decades ahead," Forbes continued. "That is why I plan to work tirelessly to ensure our seapower and projection forces are sized, resourced, postured, and maintained to meet the missions we ask of them. As Chairman, I will have four priorities for the future of our seapower and projection forces:

Reverse the decline in the Navy's battle force fleet, and grow its numbers, readiness, and capabilities.

Strengthen the naval air component, and posture it to meet future threats.

Support the Marine Corps warfighter with the essential equipment to be a premier expeditionary force, including growing the amphibious fleet.

Build a new generation of Air Force strike and lift capabilities to underwrite the Nation's power-projection capabilities."

Congressman Forbes has served on the House Armed Services Committee since taking office in 2001. He has been the Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee since 2011 and Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee from 2008-2010. To learn more about the House Armed Services Committee and the Seapower & Projection Forces Subcommittee, visit: http://armedservices.house.gov/. To learn more about the Congressman's work on defense, visit: http://forbes.house.gov/issues/defense.htm.